Bacterial culture media and inoculation methods.ppt

Basics of Biosafety Working Safely with Biological Materials Central Michigan University College of Science and Technology What is Biosafety? • Principles and practices employed to protect laboratory personnel and the environment from exposure or infection while working with living organisms, biological materials, or agents. • Included are any materials that may be potentially infectious. • Includes recombinant DNA research Agents and Risks • The “agent” is the what creates risk • Risks to the worker or environment are often unknown • Determining “acceptable risk”? Assessing Risk • There is always risk! • The risk must be identified • The risk is evaluated • The risk must be measured • Plan to minimize the risk Who Determines Acceptable Risk? • Assessment is conducted by a Biosafety Professional in partnership with and based on information provided by the Principal Investigator • The assessment is presented to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for approval Identifying Risk • Understand the biology of the agent • Susceptibility and transmission within the host • Hazards associated with equipment and procedures • Goal: • Provide the highest practical protection and the lowest practical exposure Evaluating Risk Acceptability • Worst case scenario -What might happen? • Likelihood of an event • Seriousness of the incident • Actions needed to resolve the problems What is Acceptable Risk? • Since there is no such thing as “no risk” • “Safe” means risk has been judged acceptable • Judging risk is a subjective- humans make decisions • Measuring risk is objective- use available guidelines, data, and documentation • Keep records of how determinations were made due to subjective nature of the process WHO-World Health Organization Agents Assigned Risk Groups • RG-1 Unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals • low individual or community risk • RG-2 May cause disease but typically not serious • individual risk, low community risk, treatable • RG-3 May cause serious disease, usually treatable • High individual but low community risk, serious respiratory agents • RG-4 Serious or fatal, often not treatable, • Easy transmission, high individual and community risk Biosafety Levels (BSL) • Different than the Risk Groups!! • Risk groups used in risk assessment • BSL are used in risk management • BSL are ways to control the agent • facilities, safety equipment, practices, PPE, etc. • Once risk is assessed then the appropriate BSL is determined BioSafety Level 1 • Well characterized, non-pathogenic organisms or agents • Open bench- no containment • Use good laboratory practices, waste disposal, and aseptic techniques • Example: E. coli K-12 strains BioSafety Level 2 • Agents of moderate hazard to personnel or environment • Basic lab, but restricted access, containment during certain processes (i.e. aerosols, large volumes, etc.) • Autoclave and Biological Safety Cabinet desired • Use good laboratory practices, waste disposal, and aseptic techni